Orlando Pirates promote teenage striker Lyle Foster

Orlando Pirates have promoted teenage striker Lyle Foster to the first team amid heavy expectations from Buccaneers chairman Irvin Khoza.

The 17-year-old, who scored in Amajita's 2-1 friendly win over England earlier this week, will don jersey number 20 at Mayfair.

Khoza expects big things of Foster, who competed in the MultiChoice Diski Challenge last season, as well as the U-17 Gauteng Future Champs, the U-18 Engen Knockout Challenge, the U-19 Bayhill Cup and the U-23 Project X UK Tour.

"Some of the best footballers that the country has ever produced have donned this jersey,” Khoza told the club's website.

"The likes of Chippa Chippa Moloi, Teboho’s father, he was one of the best. That’s why you see his picture on the walls. Together with many names like Jomo Sono and Kaizer Motaung, these players made an impact at this club and left their mark.

“At 17 years of age, you join a group of players that includes Jomo, who made history by being among the youngest ever signed by this club. Congratulations Mr Foster, we look forward to seeing great things from you with this club.”



Foster is honoured to pen terms with the Soweto giants as he seeks to win the favour of new head coach Milutin Sredojevic.

“This is unreal,” said Foster. “To be promoted to the senior team at such a young age is a big honour for me and my family. I’m looking forward to learning from the coaches and growing as a player in my new environment. I want to thank God because this wouldn’t have been possible without him, and I also thank my family and the club for the guidance and support.”

Foster joins Yusuf Maart and Lehlohonolo Mtshali in the senior set-up following their elevation from the reserve team in 2016/17.

He added: “We’ve played with Hloni and Yusuf before, so when they got promoted, it was pretty cool. It showed us that there is always a chance that someone else will follow. They opened the door for guys like me and hopefully I can do the same for the others, you know.”